A proposal was made to the
meeting on 21 January that the photographic businesses should close
for summer holidays during the second fortnight of August.

[BJP
1921, p.39]

Free Sittings

Edinburgh's
photographers had objected to the practice of professional
photographers offering 'Free Sittings' and had written to the
Professional Photographers' Association in London enlisting their
support. A reply from London was read out to the Meeting on 21
January saying:

"Whilst we deprecate the
giving of free sittings as a business system we are not in a
position at the present moment to take effective action on this
matter."
[BJP
1921, p.39]

It was reported to the ESPP Meeting on 4 April
that:

"The practice in London of
giving 'Free Sittings' was carried on by professional photographers
to an alarming extent and tended in great measure to reduce the
business standing of professional photographers"
[BJP
1921, p.39]

Lighting
and Posing Classes

Support was
given at the meeting on 7 February for the Lighting and Posing
Classes being held at the College of Art.
[BJP 1921, p.101]

Water Rates

Mr Ferguson
proposed at the meeting on 7 February that the Society should
approach the Water Trustees to get water rates payable by
professional photographer put on an equitable basis. It was
agreed that this was not a matter that the Society should take up.
[BJP 1921, p.101]

Swan Watson -
PPA President

Mr Swan Watson
was congratulated on being nominated President Elect of the
Professional Photogaphers' Association in London. It was noted
that this prestigious post had previously been held by the late
Frank P Moffat.
[BJP 1921, p.101]

Prices for Commercial
Photography

There was
discussion on 18 March of the minimum price that should be charged
for commercial photography.
Mr Moffat had suggested charges that took account of the time
and materials, with a margin for profit. Other preferred a simpler
scale of minimum charges.

The
following table was adopted, and a committee was established to
pursue the topic of a 'costing basis of pricing'. Discussion
of the minimum charges to be made for school classes and for groups
of workers was deferred.

Discussion of adopting a 'costing basis of
pricing'
continued at subsequent meetings. It was agreed at the Meeting
on 14 October to consider the scale of charges currently being made
by photo process engravers before taking any decision.
[BJP 1921, p.615]

Practical Classes
in Photography

No reply had yet been received from Heriot Watt
College concerning the institution of a class in Practical Chemistry
as applied to photography and Optics. [BJP 1921, p.223]

The Society reported at the Meeting on 2 May that
they were pursuing the Education Authority to provide a trade class
in Photography at night school. [BJP
1921, p.285]

Mr Hislop of Hislop & Day, Process Engravers,
was invited to the ESPP Meeting on 26 May. For the past 16
years, he had conducted a class for process engravers at Heriot Watt
College. It was suggested that he should conduct an Education
Department class on Chemistry and Optics as applied to Photography.
[BJP 1921, p.329]

Mr Hislop agreed to take these classes. It was
reported at the ESPP Meeting on 3 October that 16 students had
attended the first class the previous week and that 24 were expected
to attend the next class.
[BJP 1921, p.615]

Drawing
and Retouching Classes

At the meeting on 7 November, Members were asked
to encourage their pupils to attend the drawing and retouching
classes being held at the College of Art.

[BJP 1921, p.692

USA

It was reported on 26 May that Pirie Macdonald of New
York, one of the premier photographers in the USA was to be invited
to lunch by the ESPP during his visit to Edinburgh.
[BJP 1921, p.329]

William Crooke was congratulated at the Meeting on
7 November, on his "success achieved in exhibition in
America and the unique and meritorious honours that he had been
awarded in that country." [BJP 1921, p.692]

Golf Match

A Golf Match against Glasgow's Professional
Photographers was arranged, to be held at Turnhouse on 21 October.
[BJP 1921, p.615]

Golf Match

J Campbell Harper, in his Presidential Address on
3 October earnestly commended members to encourage and foster a
knowledge of art as applied to photography amongst their members. [BJP 1921, p.615]

Deliveries

Mr Moffat mentioned, at the meeting on 7 November,
that he:

"... had been approached by
Mr Turnbull, 20 Hillside Street, Edinburgh, the owner of a neat
delivery van, offering to deliver photographers' parcels at the rate
of 25s per week or 5d per parcel."

He thought the proposal was a good one and
commended it to the members for their consideration.
[BJP 1921, p.692]

Annual Dinner

The 4th Annual Dinner of the
Society was held on 5 December.

William Crooke was
congratulated on having won the
Takoma Cup in Vancouver.